Fastener



(NB Model.)

2 Sheets-She.et 1.

S; M; FERGUSON.

MAIL BAG 'FASTENER.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. S. M."PERGUSON.

. MAIL BAG- PASTBNER'. No. 514,183. Patented Feb. 6, 1894. I

: UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIDNEY M. FERGUSON, OF ELWOOD INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND JAMES M.WELL, OF SAME PLACE.

I MAIL- BAG FAS-TEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 5 14,183, datedFebruary 6, 1894.

Application filed July 26, 1893. Serial No. 481,534. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIDNEY M. FERGUSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Elwood, in the county of Madison and State of Indiana, haveinvented a new and useful Mail-Bag Fastener, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates, in general, to mail pouches or bags, and'moreparticularly refers, to an improved mail-bag fastener or looking device,in the nature of an attachment applicable to existing bags of diiferenttypes and sizes.

By this improvement, I contemplate providing a simple and inexpensiveform of fastener which will eflectually prevent any unwarranted accessor tampering with the pouch, and which will be easy and convenient inoperation, durable in use, and eminently serviceable in practice.

For the attainment'of these objects, and for other purposes hereinafterenumerated, my invention comprises certain structural details,arrangement and combination of parts, all of which will be more fullydescribed hereinafter. r

The novel features of the invention are embraced in the appended claim,which is intended to accord in its scope and meaning with the priorstate of the art and the existing laW.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown a preferred form of myinvention embodying certain features which I deem adequateforsuccessfully carrying out the invention in practice, however, I donot limit myself to the exact details shown and described, since variouschanges touching form, proportion, and minor mechanical changes may bemade without deviating from the fundamental principles of the invention.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a mail pouchhaving my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a similar view of theopposite or rear side of the bag with the sheath or cover for thefastening strap shown detached .to disclose the underneath construction.Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the strap removed from the bag.Fig. 4 is a similar view of one of the locking plates shown detachedfrom the strap. Fig. 5 is aview similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the strapin position on the bag and covered by the leather sheath, which isomitted from Fig.2. Fig. 6 isa transverse section on the line :r-cc ofFig. 1, the bag being locked.

Like numerals of reference denote like or corresponding parts in theseveral views of the drawings.

The bag or pouch is made of some strong, durable, and water-proofmaterial, usually leather, with overlapped riveted seams, 1, on theside, and with the separate bottom portion, 2, riveted or otherwisesecured to the body of the bag. The mouth of the bag is stayed orreinforced by a broad strip of leather or similar material, 3, made inone piece and extending clear around the said mouth withits upper edgeparallel and flush with the edge of the mouth. The meeting ends of thisstrip are overlapped and riveted together and to the material of the bagin the usual manner, and at proper places around the mouth this strip isriveted to the underneath leather of the pouch. Thus, it will beunderstood that there are two thicknesses of leather for a prescribeddistance below the mouth. 'Formed integral with this strip, 3, is theflap, 4, joined to the half of the strip, 3, which is on the rear orback side of the mouth of the bag; and to this flap are securelyfastened the eye-staples, 5, spaced equal distances apart and projectingout at right-angles to thegplane of the under side of the flap. Thesestaples are held in place severally by the metal plates, 6, on theopposite side of the flap, by rivets as shown. Slightly below the edgeof the mouth of the bag are formed a number of vertically disposedelongated holes, 7, cut through both sides of the bag, and in alignmentrespectively with the staples, 5, so that when the flap is folded downin closed position over the bag, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the

' staples will pass through their respective holes and project on theopposite side far enough to admit the entrance therethrough of thelocking devices hereinafter described. On the outside of the flap nearone corner or end thereof is secured the staple, 8, whereby thefastening strap is locked thereto by means of the usual mail-bag lock.

9 designates the looking or fastening strap consisting of a single pieceof leather, and provided at each end with a wear-plate, 10, throughwhich is formed a slot 11 to pass over the staple, 8, when the ends ofthe strap are there placed preparatory to locking them in position.

The strap, 9, is permanently secured in position on the bag by means ofthe two elongated slots, 11, severally held in place by the retainingdevices, 12, on the rearside of the bag. In one instance, I show theretaining device in the form of a headed rivet or bolt and in the other,it is a staple having one prong passing through the slot, 11. By thisconstruction, it will be clear that the strap is to permit a prescribedplay or sliding movement back and forth transversely over the rear sideof the mouth of the bag, yet is held against removal by means of theretaining means described. Attached at equal distances apart to the partof the strap which lies within and between the two retaining devices,12, is a series of locking plates, 13, L-shaped in outline andprojecting upwardly from the upper side of the strap. The horizontalmember or finger, 14E of each of these locking plates overlies and isadjacent to a staple hole 7, so that when the flap is closed and thestaples carried thereby project through the slots, 7, to the rear side,the fingers, 14, are adapted to be shoved back and forth in and out ofthe said staples to lock or unlock the same against removal. When theflap is closed, the operator can lock the flap in position by pullingthe loose end of the strap in one direction, and can unlock it bypulling in the opposite direction. \Vhen it is desired to close the bagfor transportation, the strap is pulled into locked position and itsends passed over the staple, 8, and the mail-lock then applied. In

this way, no one can slip the hand under the flap into the bag while thelock is over the ends of the strap in the staple, 8.

The locking plates on the rear side of the strap are covered, concealedand protected by a sheath or shield 15, of leather made in two parts asshown and secured over the rear side of the strap.

My improved fastener can be attached readily to any form of pouch now inuse without any change whatsoever in the bag, and in an inexpensivemanner. In use, it will be found to be exceedingly convenient and usefulwhen applied to the portable forms or mail pouches such as are carriedby mounted post-messengers and the like.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

A mail pouch fastener, consisting ofa strap completely encircling thebag near its mouth and permanently fixed thereto by a retaining boltpassing through an elongated slot, a series of L-shaped locking platescarried by said strap and projecting from one side thereof, a stay stripsecured around the mouth of the pouch and provided with a series ofstaple-holes passing through both edges of the mouth of the pouch, aflap formed integral with said strip and carrying a series of staples onits under side which are adapted to pass through the said holes toengage the locking plates carried by the strap, alocking staple on theoutside of the said flap adapted to receive the slotted ends of thefastening strap and to also admit the entrance of a mail look, a maillock to secure the ends of said strap over the lock staple, and a sheathcovering the locking plates and staples, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SIDNE Y M. FERGUSON.

Witnesses:

JAMES A. VAN OSDAL, A. E. GoRDoN.

